Chances Are High Pot Measure Will Pass - Willie Brown

[WillyT]

Chances are high pot measure will pass
Willie Brown
Sunday, September 27, 2009

<snip>

That proposed ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in California for people 21 and older - and let local government tax the sales - has a good chance of passing.

People are no longer outraged by the idea of legalization, and truth be told, there is just too much money to be made both by the people who grow marijuana and the cities and counties that would be able to tax it.

Unlike the 1970s, when Mayor George Moscone first moved to decriminalize pot, marijuana is no longer about hippies. Thanks to medical marijuana, pot has moved from the alleyways to Main Street, with pot clubs springing up all over the state.

And let's be honest for a moment. How many of the people going into those clubs do you think are really sick? Anyone who has observed those operations knows that much of the pot is being used recreationally anyway, so we might as well have a discussion about whether to bring it out in the open.

You might think the Legislature would pick up on this, and indeed Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, has made a proposal to legalize and tax pot. But although legalizing marijuana fits both Republicans' libertarian instincts and Democrats' progressivism, they won't touch it with a 10-foot-long pack of rolling papers.

For all our weak-kneed politicians, however, I don't see any organized opposition to legal pot on the horizon. So if the pot growers put their money in the right places, they win in 2010.

<snip>

Link: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/26/BA4019SMHB.DTL

GOOD!!!

:smoke:

[ensho]

1. hope it passes. go Calif.!

nt

[Oregone]

2. It will be more complicated than this

Do you think neighboring states will want Californian (taxed) marijuana coming into their states (and thus displacing consumer funds to California's economy/government). Do you think the Federal Government will sit by willy nilly, pressured by the omnipotent pharma companies that run the show, and allow this legal drug to spread out from California like a wildfire (thus increasing availability and dropping prices nationwide)?

This is an economic problem and a political problem. A ballot measure in a not so isolated state will not magically fix this situation, I don't believe.

[WillyT]

3. Well... Obama's DOJ Said...

that they wouldn't supercede the will of any state with regards to marijuana.

This is one way of testing that assertion.

:shrug:

[Oregone]

8. Thats one way to put it

But campaign contributors may start whispering in ears if they see their profits diminished by a more efficient natural drug. No matter how you cut it though, this will not bode well in other states.

Would this also cause a mass influx of criminal marijuana croppers to move to California, for legal immunity, before exporting their product on the black market to other states? How will Canada and Mexico respond to a diminished market from this decision (maybe foreign cartels will start Californian divisions to control the US market)? You know, Canada (via Hell's Angels) and Mexico already have a huge foothold in California as it is, so it will be interesting to see how this decision restructures the international drug trade.

Its just odd to me. A ballot measure in a single state will cause a multi-billion dollar restructuring in the black market, so I would highly doubt its going to be this simple. There will be a ton of money from unusual bedfellows fighting this.

And one last note....California. For God's sake! They banned gay marriage!

[Cartoonist]

19. Irrelevant

What other states or countries think won't mean a thing at the ballot. I do wonder how it could still be made legal because Federal law supersedes state law. Anyways, I live in CA and I will vote yes.

[Xicano]

26. Actually the gay marriage ban thing plays no part in forecasting a legalization ballot initiative.

Two big reasons. The Mexican community and the Black community. You have to remember that most folks don't pay attention to the issues anywhere near as close as we do, and, a lot of people are still not comfortable about the thought of homosexuality.

However, a ballot initiative in the state recognized as this country's top marijuana state, and where the vast majority of those who voted yes on prop 8 will I assure you vote yes on legalization. I agree with Willie Brown's assessment.

Remember, the outlawing of marijuana in the first place wasn't just a corporate agenda, it was also to oppress Mexican and Black folks. How many racial slurs were used by Harry J. Anslinger and William Randolph Hearst and others in promoting the outlawing of marijuana? Lots!

Here's a few examples:


• "...the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races." - Harry Anslinger
  
  
• "There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana usage. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others." - Harry Anslinger
  
  
• "Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men." - Harry Anslinger
  
  
• "Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing." - Harry Anslinger
  
  
• "Marihuana influences Negroes to to look at white people in the eye, step on white men's shadows and look at a white woman twice." - William Randolph Hearst



http://www.ornorml.org/articles/quotes.php?search=REEFER+MADNESS

Here's a video I think is a MUST SEE on the issue of marijuana and the hope for change with Obama.

http://blip.tv/file/2152525



Peace,
Xicano

[eppur_se_muova]

32. Jazz "result{s} from marijuana usage"?

Damn, now I gotta go try some.

(Like what it does to white women wasn't enough! :evilgrin:)

[Mark Baker]

43. So what's the downside?

# "There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana usage. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others." - Harry Anslinger

# "Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men." - Harry Anslinger

# "Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing." - Harry Anslinger

So what's the downside?

(Well, OK, as a white man I'd be kind of annoyed if <i>all</i> the women were only interested in black men).

[laughingliberal]

4. No, but it will get that ball rolling

just a question of time after that until the nation follows suit.

[Oregone]

10. Marijuana is not completely legal in very liberal countries

(though, often de facto decriminalized)

How would it get legalized in a significant amount in a country as ass-backwards as the US? Seriously...what's the difference between the Republicans and the Taliban? Better caves.

[Royal Sloan 09]

5. K & R, Solution = Legalize

Yes, We Cannabis!:smoke: :thumbsup:

[endless october]

6. pot should definitely be legal.

and that's coming from someone who prefers alcohol.

here's my solution to the drug war : a consensus vote.

everyone in the country has to participate. we send them all ballots, and they return the ballots with an up or down vote.

and the ones that vote to keep the drug war in place get a monthly bill for it.

i'm tired of paying for a useless drug war when ending it outright would free up enough funds for single payer.

[onehandle]

7. Oh, man. Time to buy tobacco stock. Big Tobacco will make a killing!

They have been preparing for this since the 1970s according to their internal documentation.

[imdjh]

11. Be sweet if there could be a law against large scale growers.

Ensure that this stays a family business. Outlaw growing more than 10% of your land or something like that. And outlaw brokerage. We don't want people trading in pot futures.

The tax should be a percentage of the price, that way the price can go to zip.

[Oregone]

13. This is America. Rather, there would be a law against small scale growers

Licenses will probably cost a fortune


Of course, this all assumes a state will liberally pass this law (so they would care about this matter). This all goes out on a major limb. We will see.

[onehandle]

14. LOL! I have faith in Big Tobacco's lawyers.

Big Tobacco will win because they have a delivery system already in place.

Nice, easy tax income that is easily measurable right away, unlike small growers.

"Marboro Natural - Get High Like A Cowboy."

[slay]

24. I agree - limit it to small groups

This should be a *ahem* grassroots thing, not a big business kind of thing. I would hope most pot smokers would realize big business IS WHY pot is illegal now and would NEVER buy from a big business group. When it becomes legal, I'm gonna do my research and buy local - and buy liberal! :patriot:

[Oregone]

12. But big pharma will lose billions nationwide

So, ya know, thats who is going to be funding a lot of the political ads against it I bet.

[tridim]

15. Basement growers have been preparing for this too.

All the interesting genetics were created by average people, not RJR. I think big tobacco is in for a big shock. Not many people know how mature the cannabis growing industry has already become, and all while it is still highly illegal. Legalization will release 50 years of intense and careful selective breeding into the public domain. I can't wait to see what happens.

Smart people will invest in organizations like Oaksterdam University and consignment seed companies like Seedbay.

[Aramchek]

17. nobody's going to buy their schwag

unlike tobacco, mass-production of pot leads to a noticeably weaker and less desirable product

[Oregone]

21. Thats why theyll mix it with Chlorox, Tar, Arsenic, Nail Polish and Secret Compound #54

Yeah, thatll get you high

[Aramchek]

36. Not as high as some heady organic buds

Not even close.

[onehandle]

27. They have the manufacturing and distribution system in place.

They won this before it even started.

[Aramchek]

37. but all they know how to manufacture is mass-produced generic grade tobacco

that is totally different than high-grade marijuana, which is all that anybody wants, really

[onehandle]

41. Everybody goes to McDonalds for Moules à la crème Normande, Boeuf Bourguignon, and Tarte Normande.

No wait, they go for Filet-O-Fish, Quarter Pounders, and 'Apple Pie.'

Because that's what marketing tells them to do.

There will be small boutique pot, but most people will get the 'Big Mac Weed.'

And you don't think that Big Tobacco won't make it potent?

Ha!

[imdjh]

9. Would be interesting to know how many who voted for Prop 8 support pot.

But we're not supposed to talk about that.

[anigbrowl]

25. Why? They're totally different issues, I see no overlap

Although I don't think there'l be big $$ from out of state trying to defeat this.

[imdjh]

38. Why what? Why would Democrats who voted with the GOP on Prop 8 now vote for pot?

Or why aren't we supposed to talk about which Democrats voted with the GOP on Prop 8?

[anigbrowl]

40. No, why would it be interesting? I'm not sure what you expect to learn

I have no idea which Democrats voted for Prop 8 (I didn't) and I guess I never will, because we have secret ballots and people's votes are private. So if someone says they are pro-pot in the upcoming election, I don't see how this will tell us a darn thing about which way they voted on Prop 8.

[ixion]

16. w00t!

way to go CA! :applause:

[Xicano]

18. I've always said to friends it will also boost more tourism - probably by a lot

:smoke: :bounce:

[Oregone]

20. People would stay longer...and eat more.

They would meander indefinitely, exploring fine and not-so-fine dining. Sounds fun.

[Xicano]

22. Disneylad and Dodger Stadium are going to have to increase their hotdog inventories

LOL. :)

:hi:

[slay]

23. Now I just have to decide where in Cally I will be moving to

Cause I'll be damned if I'm going to continue to live in a state that refuses me the right to smoke pot. I have stomach issues and can not drink alcohol, but marijuana actually helps my stomach problems - and - oh no - I enjoy it too! Ok off to look up job ads in cally. Peace. :hippie: :smoke:

[Le Taz Hot]

28. Chances are high you're wrong, Mr. Brown.

We didn't think Prop. H8 had a chance to pass either, but here we are, stuck with the POS.

It seems some of the counties are hell-bent on preventing dispensaries from opening/continuing and they're getting pretty creative in the ways in which they're doing it. The California League of Cities (couldn't find out much about them) seems to be behind at least some of this. My guess is they're some sort of conservative-backed law-and-order organization.

Here's a couple of recent articles about San Diego and Fresno but Riverside, Madera and I think a couple other counties up north ar having the same types of issues. We CAN'T be complacent about this.

Raids Shut Down Dispensaries

Law enforcement officers raided an unknown number of medical-marijuana dispensaries around the San Diego region yesterday, authorities said.

The District Attorney's Office, which is leading the multiagency operation, declined to give further details, saying more information would be released today.

<snip>

Raids were reported at a handful of dispensaries, including Pacific Beach Collective on Turquoise Street, Green Kross Collective on Mission Boulevard and Hillcrest Compassion Care on University Avenue. Late yesterday, a red sign in front of Pacific Beach Collective read: “This location has been involved in the trafficking of illegal narcotics. Criminal prosecution is pending.”

<more>

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/sep/10/raids-shut-down-marijuana-dispensaries/?metro&zIndex=163124&dsq=16307334#comment-16307334


Fresno Tries New Approach to Pot Shops

Fresno is taking a new approach in its effort to keep medical marijuana dispensaries from opening up in the city: going after the landlords.

The city is asking property owners to evict the dispensaries. In return, the city will end legal action against them.

Fresno attorney Richard Runcie, who is representing two dispensaries -- Earthsource and Central Valley Collective -- accused the city of trying to do "an end run" around the legal proceedings by "trying to scare the landlords."

<more>

http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/1642215.html

[Flaneur]

29. Support for legalization polled 56% earlier this year.

Despite reactionary backwaters like San Diego and Fresno.

But that is still a low level of support on which to base an initiative effort. The pros want numbers in the 60s at least before they'll put their money in play. 56% may support the notion of legalization, but give the voters a concrete initiative, and that number will fall as some find objections to the language.

This is going to be a very close vote.

[Le Taz Hot]

35. So, "reactionary backwaters" like San Diego and Fresno

are anomalies. K. And thanks for your support because alienating the residents who live in those "backwater" areas is certainly the way to go about gathering a coalition of like-minded people. You betcha! :eyes:

As people upthread have pointed out, opposition will come from neighboring states and the same folks who brought you the lovely Proposition H8. Opposition will come from big pharma and from the liquor industry.

Add to that this is an off-election year and the Faithful love off-election year politics, I think you're foolish in your overconfidence. We should have learned THAT lesson from the passage of Proposition H8.

[Flaneur]

30. Delete--dupe

[Flaneur]

31. Delete--dupe

[proud patriot]

33. It will go a long way to help this budget mess

It's about friggin time !

[imdjh]

42. I love optimism. But didn't they piss away the lottery money?

Pick a state. "The lottery will (some claim about education)."

It's like pay. No matter how much you pay people, once the person gets used to that income he starts thinking he's underpaid for what he does.

[RidinMyDonkey]

34. Good for them!

I read a while back that once pot is decriminalized we can also start making items out of hemp. I'm not a marijuana smoker and I've never seen a hemp plant, but supposedly they can make all types of materials from them. If that's true, the first thing I'm going to do is go to California and buy some underoos made up of weed.

[GreenPartyVoter]

39. "High?" *snarf*